Loading machine



Filed Aug. 12

1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l 641% dMMz/ June 28, 1927.

1,634,148 L. JQHNSON LOADING MACHINE Filed Aug 12. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L 0 4,11) J omrsozar MOT/1184 Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES LOGAN JOHNSON, OF CENTERVILLE, IOWA.

LOADING MACHINE.

Application filed August 12, 1926. Serial No. 128,800.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for a machine to be attached to and trail a coal-mining machine for the purpose of picking up and loading or otherwise discharging the clay or earth removed by such machine from below the breast of coal.

A further object is to provide improved means for saving the labor of a shoveler in the operation of mining coal, by attaching an automatic machine to the coal-mining machine for picking up the dirt removed by it.

A further object is to provide an improved construct-ion for an endless chain device having spaced paddles thereon to pick up substance such as loose earth.

A further object is to provide such a machine having an endless elevator belt arranged on an incline and so constructed and arranged that its inclination may be changed or reversed and its direction of travel also reversed.

l/Vith these and other objects in view, my invention-consists in the construction, arrangement and. combination of elements hereinafter set. forth, pointed out in the claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine, portions being broken away to reveal interior construction;-

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 33 of Figure 1.; V:

Figure 4 is a cross-section on the line-4-4 of Figure 3. Y i

. Figure 5 is a detail section illustrating the means for securing'the adjustment of the elevator, substantially on-the line" 5-5 .of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3, illustrating the means for controlling the direction of travel of the elevator belt. i m

In the construction of the machine as shown a suitable frame is provided, 'designated generally by the numeral 10. At the rear end of the frame shafts 11 and 12 are journaled transversely, at the top and bot tom respectively of the frame; and at the forward-end similar shafts 13 and 14 are arranged and are journaled in boxings 15 arranged for adjustment in longitudinal seats 16, the adjustment being controlled by screws 17. Fixed to the shafts 11, 12, '13

and 14 are sprocket wheels 18, 19, 20 and 21' 1 respectively, in pairs, over which sprocket chains 22 and 23 are arranged for travel, one on each side of the machine. The chains .22 and 28 are connected by paddles 24 fixed thereto, in this instance eight in number, and of any suitable width. An apron 25 of sheet metal is arranged between the sprocket chains 22 and 23, against which the base edges of the paddles 24 are designed to travel, and said apron extends entirely around the machine except for an opening at the top through which the paddles are ar ranged to discharge their loads, and the apron 1s extended downwardly at the rear and forward margins of the opening to form guide wings or baflies 26 and 27 respectively.

Arranged outside of the apron 25 and uniformly spaced therefrom at the'top, bottom and rear of the machine, is a housing 28, and suchspacing corresponds closely to the width of the paddles 24, the free. margins of which are adapted to travel in substantial contact with the inner face of said housing. At the forward side of the machine, where the paddles are traveling downward and carry no load, the spacing is somewhat greater to permit tightening of the chains 22 and 23 by means of the adjusting screws 17,-

from time to time as needed. The machine is adapted to be attached to and behind a coal-mining machine of any suitable type, a small portion of which is shown in Figure 1 and designated by the numeral 29, as by means of drawbars 30 and 31. The loading machine is dragged behind the mining ma chineas it advances, and the housing 28 is formed with a transverse opening 33 at its lower forward end, adapted to scoop up loose earth detached by the mining machine Arranged transversely of the machine below the opening in the apron 25 is an end less elevator composed of side frame members 34 and 35, in the ends of which drums 36 and 37 are iournaled, and around which drums an endless belt 38 is arranged for travel, having slats 39 thereon. The elevator is pivotally supported by means of a sleeve 40 which extends through the centers of the frame members 34: and 35 and is fixed thereto by set screws 41. At the rear end the sleeve 40 is journaled in a bearing 42 carried by the frame 10, and at its forward end it is journaled in a split bearing 43 formed on a bracket 44 carried by the frame. I have provided means for adjusting the inclination of the elevator and for reversing its direction of inclination transversely of the machine, as well as for selectively driving the elevator belt 38 in either direction, so as to discharge at either side of the machine. A crank shaft 4:5 (Figure 5) is jonrnaled in one member of the split bearing 43 and in a bracket 4-6 projecting from the frame 10, and is arranged for manual actuation to clamp the bearing upon the sleeve l0 so as to maintain any adjustment which may be made of the inclination of the elevator. The crank shaft 45 is formed with a collar l? engaging against the part of the split bearing in which it is ournaled, and is threaded into the other member of the hearing so as to draw said members together when the shaft is turned in one direction. The battle plates 26 and 27 taper down to a point at the longitudinal center of the frame, directly above the sleeve 40 or axis of oscillation of the elevator, and their lower margins are arranged for close contact with the upper endof the elevator in whichever position it may be, as shown in Figure 4. Flaring wings 48 and t9. are fixed to the side frame members 34 and 35 of the elevator,.outside of the baffles 26 and 27, to assist in directing material to the elevator belt. The upper run of thebelt 38 extends within grooves in the inner faces of. the side members 3d, 35, as shown in Figure 3. the arrangement of the baf'fle plates, wings, and close connection of the bcit to the side members, all of the material delivered by the paddles 24 through the opening in the apron is received upon the elevator belt and discharged laterally of the machine by it.

An electric motor 50 is suitably mounted on the frame at its forward end and enclosed by a housing 51. current from any convenient source and on its shaft is a worm 52. A drive shaft 53 is arranged transversely of the forward end of the frame and ournaled for rotation in bearings 54, and on one end of said shaft is a worm wheel 67 meshing with and adapted to be driven by the worm 52. A countershaft 55 is journaled in the sleeve to and has at its forward end a bevel. gear 56 meshing with opposed bevel gears 57 and 58 loosely mounted on the drive shaft 53. A clutch member 59 is feathered on the drive shaft 53 between the opposed gears 5'7 and 58 and is adapted to be shifted for selective engagement with one or the other of said gears whereby the The motor is supplied with,

gear so engaged may be operatively connected to the shaft for driving of the countershaft in one direction or the other. The countershaft 55 is connected by means of sprocket gearing 60 to one of the drums such as 37 of the elevator device for driving of the belt 38 in the desired direction. For shifting the clutch member 59 a lever 61 is fulcrumed on the frame and between its ends loosely engages said clutch member. To the free end of the lever 61 is pivotally connected an operating rod. 62 extending laterally through a hole 63 in a frame member for manual operation. The operating rod 62 isformed with a plurality of notches 64 for engagement with the frame at the margin of the aperture 63 to hold the parts in adjusted position, and is yieldingly held in such engagement by means of a coil spring 65 (Figure 6).

The bottom of the housing 28 at the forward end of the machine and below the opening 33 preferably is extended forwardly and laterally to form a scoop 66 for engaging and picking up the loose earth.

It is believed that from the foregoing description, the operation of the machine and its advantages will be obvious to those skilled in the art, particularly in the saving of time and labor accomplished by its use, and the uniform delivery of the dirt from the'elevator.

As it is customary for the mining machine. to be moved in its operation along abreast of coal, and then reversed and moved back in the opposite direction, it follows that. the

elevator must be reversed as to inclination and direction of operation from time to time, which is easily and quickly. accomplished by the means I have shown and described.

The chains 22 and 23 and pickup paddles 24 are driven by means of sprocket gearing 68 from the shaft 53 to' one of the cornershafts such as 13. I I I I This machine also provides a safer way of removing the dirt, than is possible when itmust be done by hand.

It is apparent that some changes may be made in the construction and arrrangement of my improved loading machine, and-it is my intention to cover any modifiedv forms and mechanical equivalents which may. reasonably be included within the scope ofithe appended claims.

I claim as-my invention- 1. A loading machine, comprising. a frame, endless chains mounted for travel around said frame,.a series of pick-up paddles fixed to said chains. and extending trans-- versely of tlie machine, an'elevator mounted in said frame-below the upperrun of said endless chains, said elevator being arrangedfor adjustment of its inclination iii either direction, and means for driving said eleva: tor selectively in either direction.

2. A loading machine comprising a frame adapted to be attached to and trail behind a mining machine, a housing on said frame adapted for sliding contact with the ground surface, and formed with an opening at its lower forward end to receive loosened material, a series of pick-up paddles arranged for travel Within said housing to pick up the material received therein and deliver it at the top of the frame, and an elevator arranged for travel laterally of the machine and to receive material deposited by said paddles and throw it to one side of the frame.

3. A loading machine comprising a frame, a series of pick-up paddles arranged for travel on said frame, an apron surrounding said frame inside the line of travel of said paddles and formed with an opening at its top, a housing enclosing said paddles and adapted to be contacted by the outer edges thereof in their travel, means for receiving loosened material at the forward end of said housing for engagement by the paddles, and

I a lateral elevator carried by the frame beneath the opening in said apron.

h A loading machine, comprising a frame, a pair of endless chains arranged for travel, a series of transverse pick-up pad- I dles carried by said chains, an apron arranged inside the line of travel of said paddles and formed with an opening at the top of said frame, an elevator transversely 'arranged beneath said opening, said elevator being pivotally mounted at its center so that its inclination may be adjusted and reversed to deliver in either direction, a shaft for driving said elevator, and means. for selectively driving said shaft in either direction.

5. A loading machine comprising a frame, a series of shafts arranged transversely, sprocket chains arranged for travel on said shafts, the shafts at one end of the frame being arranged for adjustment to tighten the chains, a series of pick-up paddles on said chains, a housing outside of the line of travel of said paddles and adapt-ed for contact by the edges thereof to carry loose material, said housing being spaced a greater distance from the chains at that side Where arrangement is made for adjustment of said shafts.

6. In a loading machine, a frame, an elevator including spaced side members and an endless conveyor belt arranged for travel therebetW-een, a cylindric member mounted through said side members at their centers, a bearing for one end of said cylindric member, a split bearing for the other end of said member, and means for clamping said split bearing on said member for maintaining the adjusted inclination of said elevator.

LOGAN JOHNSON. 

